98 THE HISTORY OF NEWMARKET. [Book II. 



" In the reign of Queen Elizabeth," says Mr. 



Clarkson, " racing was carried on to such an excess as 



to injure the fortunes of many individuals, 



Richmond -' _ ^ 



(Yorkshire), private matches being then made between 



gentlemen, who were generally their own 



jockeys and tryers." * He adds that the earliest account 



of races at Richmond " may be gathered from an entry 



in 1576, in the Corporation Coucher, of a Cup for the 



Horse- Race being in the possession of the Aldermen," 



Horse-racing undoubtedly flourished at Carlisle in 



the reign of Elizabeth, where the Corporation gave 



Carlisle. silver bells to be run for. Some of these 



c. 1599. interesting trophies are still preserved by the 



Corporation in their town hall. One measures two and 



a quarter inches in diameter, is of silver gilt, and has 



on it — 



The sweetest hers this bell to tak, 

 For mi Ladi Dakers sake. 



This Lady Dacre was probably Elizabeth, wife of Sir 

 William Dacre, Governor of Carlisle, temp. Elizabeth, 



Another bell, which is smaller than the one above 

 mentioned, is of silver and has on it — 



H, B., 1599, M.C., 



the initials probably meaning, " Henry Baines, Mayor 

 of Carlisle." f 



Owing to the following curious incident we learn that 



* "The History and Antiquities of Richmond, in the County of York," 

 by Christopher Clarkson, F.S.A. 



t The privileges or liberties of the Corporation of Carlisle (the 

 Court of Record) extended, temp. Elizabeth, to and included jurisdiction 

 to the full extent of the river Eden, including the lands and the whole of 

 the race-course, except that part of it which is in the parish of Stanwix. 



